Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Virginia Rail/Wild Bird

 Virginia rail (Rellus limicola)

I am feeling very lucky this week because not only have I gotten to see and photograph a Virginia rail, I have also...

 Immature Virginia rail

seen and photographed three dark brown (or black) downy chicks!  Virginia rails are normally very secretive and hide amongst the stems of dense vegetation. This one was quietly searching the edges of a marsh when I first spotted her. I couldn't believe she actually walked into the range of my camera lens.

I also saw a turtle try to reach for one of her young'uns. She was furious! She yelled at the turtle for a good three of four minutes.

Adult and immature

Apparently the female builds several "dummy nests" to confuse predators.  She lays her eggs in just one of the nests. That's a clever survival technique!

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

at

62 comments:

  1. Cezar and LéiaAugust 6, 2013 at 5:56 AM

    Cute birds and you got lovely portraits!The first one is my favorite!
    Léia

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  2. Amazing wonders in my lifeAugust 6, 2013 at 5:59 AM

    Lovely one...!

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  3. Our photosAugust 6, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    Beautiful photos!
    nice day, SK

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  4. KateAugust 6, 2013 at 7:51 AM

    Don't mess with Mama Birds! Glad you had a chance to photograph her...good find for you and for us!

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  5. JillAugust 6, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    That baby is adorable!

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  6. aspiritofsimplicityAugust 6, 2013 at 8:08 AM

    It was so nice to be able to catch a glimpse of these beautiful birds through your blog.

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  7. Lisa GordonAugust 6, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    What an interesting bird.
    And very beautiful too.
    Love that beak!

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  8. MadSnapperAugust 6, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    that first photo shows his wonderful colors so well. and to think that downy litle plain jane baby will grow up to look like daddy... so sweet to see the little ones

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  9. IrmaAugust 6, 2013 at 9:21 AM

    Beautiful pictures of the Virginia rail with her young.
    Greetings Irma

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  10. Hootin AnniAugust 6, 2013 at 9:29 AM

    Three words...wow, wow, WOW!!!!!

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  11. DarlaAugust 6, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    You were really clever to capture these photo's. I didn't know a turtle would get into the birds next. Good think the mother was on lookout.

    Darla

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  12. DeniseinVAAugust 6, 2013 at 9:36 AM

    She's a clever mommy isn't she? Marvelous photos, I can only imagine the excitement you felt when you first saw these delightful birds.

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  13. Tanya BreeseAugust 6, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    what great shots and that is so cute how she yelled at the turtle!

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  14. BirgittaAugust 6, 2013 at 10:14 AM

    Beautiful bird photos!

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  15. KarenAugust 6, 2013 at 10:30 AM

    What a great find! Terrific captures!

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  16. TexWisGirlAugust 6, 2013 at 10:34 AM

    wow! these are great!!! congratulations!

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  17. LowellAugust 6, 2013 at 10:36 AM

    How do you get some of these shots? I'm impressed! I can't even find a common sparrow to photograph!

    Re your comment on Ocala: And my teachers said I had no imagination. No wait, they said I had too much of an imagination and imagination wasn't going to get me through school. Well, I fooled them. I got through school and more! Imagine that!

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  18. PerthDailyPhotoAugust 6, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    What a great find EG, I can just imagine how thrilled you were. Excellent account of your discovery.

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  19. JudyAugust 6, 2013 at 10:53 AM

    That turtle must have been brave to try to catch that chick. Mama's beak looks like it could so some serious damage!

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  20. Jenn JilksAugust 6, 2013 at 11:14 AM

    I love it! There is always a story!!!!
    Cheers from Cottage Country!

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  21. AnonymousAugust 6, 2013 at 11:19 AM

    What lovely pictures.

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  22. John @ Beans and I on the LooseAugust 6, 2013 at 11:21 AM

    Great shots.

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  23. Margaret Birding For PleasureAugust 6, 2013 at 12:01 PM

    Fantastic shots and I am so pleased you got to see these beautiful birds within camera range(and us)

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  24. AnonymousAugust 6, 2013 at 12:13 PM

    Beautiful looking birds, great captures!

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  25. WayneAugust 6, 2013 at 1:23 PM

    That's a great week, nice of mom and her youngsters to pay you a visit. Mom goes through a lot of extra work!

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  26. AnonymousAugust 6, 2013 at 1:29 PM

    Wonderful captures! I think she's an amazing mom!

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  27. i stora dragAugust 6, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Great photos!
    That was a really wise way to build and use nests!
    Thanks for your comments! /Pia

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  28. RedPatAugust 6, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    More good shots for your bird book! ;-))

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  29. Esther JoyAugust 6, 2013 at 2:22 PM

    Great photos, as always! That would have been very interesting to see the turtle trying to get one of the little birds!

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  30. Phil SladeAugust 6, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    Brilliant! As you say EG those rails are so secretive it's good to get a look, never mind a picture or two.

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  31. mickAugust 6, 2013 at 2:37 PM

    Great photos and how fortunate to see and photograph this rail!

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  32. Sallie (FullTime-Life)August 6, 2013 at 2:45 PM

    Clever bird and clever you to find them...thanks for sharing..I saw an adult only once in port Arkansas

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  33. Modesto ViegasAugust 6, 2013 at 2:46 PM

    Very interesting bird!
    Well done!

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  34. Sallie (FullTime-Life)August 6, 2013 at 2:47 PM

    Oops that was supposed to say Port Aransas Texas, spellcheck on my IPad "fixed" it without telling me;)

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  35. UnknownAugust 6, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    Awesome photos! You were so lucky to see them!

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  36. Coloring Outside the LinesAugust 6, 2013 at 3:13 PM

    You need to share the secret of getting all these great bird shots- they are always perfect. Glad she spooked off the turtle!

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  37. Brian KingAugust 6, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Awesome! Congratulations! I've never seen one in person. Nice shots!

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  38. Pat TillettAugust 6, 2013 at 3:50 PM

    Great photos! We have these guys down here in Southern California, but I've never taken any photos as good as these of them.

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  39. GordonAugust 6, 2013 at 4:05 PM

    I am very pleased for you, and also very envious, great shots.
    All the best Gordon .

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  40. cieldequimperAugust 6, 2013 at 5:06 PM

    They are so pretty!

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  41. UnknownAugust 6, 2013 at 5:13 PM

    Exiting find!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  42. eileeninmdAugust 6, 2013 at 5:24 PM

    Congrats on your Rail sighting! It is a great bird. Awesome photos, especially the little chick. It is adorable.

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  43. Ruth HiebertAugust 6, 2013 at 5:52 PM

    WOW!!! This is truly amazing,to first see a Rail and then to be able to get such good pictures. Might be a once in a lifetime experience,is my guess.

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  44. Carole M.August 6, 2013 at 6:01 PM

    great to see!

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  45. StephanieAugust 6, 2013 at 6:19 PM

    Lucky you to capture these. I love this last one with her eye on you.

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  46. CarverAugust 6, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    These are fantastic shots and lucky you to get to see them.

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  47. LVAugust 6, 2013 at 9:22 PM

    Sometimes wild life is smarter than humans.

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  48. MichelleAugust 6, 2013 at 9:28 PM

    You find the best bird subject matter!

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  49. RandyAugust 6, 2013 at 10:05 PM

    Wonderful close up shots.

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  50. The Furry GnomeAugust 6, 2013 at 10:26 PM

    Wow! What a great find, and what great pictures!

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  51. AnonymousAugust 6, 2013 at 11:27 PM

    Wow, look at those red eyes!

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  52. ArijaAugust 6, 2013 at 11:48 PM

    Great shots. The first on, for some unknown reason, reminds me of a South American ant-eater.

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  53. FayeAugust 7, 2013 at 12:38 AM

    Lucky you to be at the right spot at the right time--with camera. Such wonderful soft coloring in the mature bird. The young is very awkward and endearing looking.

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  54. RajeshAugust 7, 2013 at 12:45 AM

    Great shots of the lovely bird.

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  55. Small City ScenesAugust 7, 2013 at 2:06 AM

    Wowee!! Lucky for you. Very neat pictures. And a baby too. I am glad you were where you were. LOL
    MB

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  56. IndraniAugust 7, 2013 at 2:41 AM

    Wonderful shots!
    Happy WW!

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  57. Stewart MAugust 7, 2013 at 5:05 AM

    Great pictures! Rail are birds that I hear more often than I see.

    But some days they seem to have their "brave heads" on and spend lots of time in the open. Strange.

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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  58. Gemma WisemanAugust 7, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    Amazing glimpses of this beautiful bird life! Love the feather colours in the first photo.

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  59. Betty ManousosAugust 7, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    wow! great catch!
    such a beautiful bird- love the photos!

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  60. Mary Howell CromerAugust 7, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    Wow!!! What marvelous images...very wonderful!

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  61. NatureFootstepAugust 7, 2013 at 5:05 PM

    great shots. Congrats to the sighting. I was able to see it´s relatives in Sweden last week. I was happy about that too. :)

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  62. RoseAugust 8, 2013 at 3:09 PM

    I should say you are lucky! And not only did you get to photograph them...you got wonderful shots! Sometimes when I come upon a good opportunity, I get so excited I cannot hold the camera still!

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